Deposit Ops Check Fraud Manager - Winter Haven

The SouthState story is one of steady growth, deep community roots, and an unwavering commitment to helping our customers move forward. Since our beginnings in the 1930s to becoming a trusted financial partner across the South and beyond - we are known for combining personal relationships with forward-thinking solutions.

We are committed to helping our team members find their success while maintaining the integrity of our values: building trust, fostering lasting relationships and pursuing excellence. At SouthState, individual contributions are recognized, potential is cultivated and team members are inspired to achieve their greater purpose. Your future begins here!

SUMMARY/OBJECTIVES

SouthState Bank (the "Bank"), a nationally chartered financial institution, is renowned for offering comprehensive consumer, commercial, mortgage, and wealth management services to over one million customers across Alabama, the Carolinas, Colorado, Florida, Georgia, Texas, and Virginia. Through its Correspondent Banking Division, the Bank serves clients nationwide.

The Deposit Operations Manager (Manager) for Check Fraud serves as a First Line of Defense risk owner for deposit-related fraud and operational risk within the department. This role is responsible for leading a team of approximately 20 team members and for maintaining effective controls across deposit channels to prevent fraud, reduce losses, and ensure regulatory compliance.

The Manager oversees mobile and ATM deposit review, inclearing check fraud detection, check fraud claims resolution, and fraud loss reporting. As a first line risk owner, this position is accountable for identifying, assessing, managing, and escalating risks within the scope of responsibility in accordance with Bank policy, regulatory requirements, and customer account agreements.

The Deposit Operations Manager drives continuous improvement initiatives that strengthen controls, improve efficiency, and enhance the customer experience while maintaining a strong risk and compliance posture.

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS

Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential job functions.

• Act as a First Line of Defense risk owner for deposit-related fraud and operational risk, ensuring appropriate controls, monitoring, and issue escalation are in place and effective.

• Lead and manage the team responsible for triaging, analyzing, detecting, and investigating potential external fraud, high-risk deposit transactions, fraud claims, and suspicious or unusual activity across deposit channels.

• Provide strategic oversight of the check fraud claim process, applying expert knowledge of the Uniform Commercial Code (UCC), Regulation CC, and deposit account agreements to ensure accurate, consistent, and compliant claim adjudication and loss mitigation decisions.

• Ensure adherence to established operational procedures, quality control standards, and internal controls designed to mitigate fraud risk and financial exposure.

• Maintain compliance with all applicable federal and state regulations, Bank policies, organizational standards, and team service level agreements (SLAs).

• Partner with internal Risk Management, Compliance, Legal, Audit, Technology, and Business stakeholders through operational oversight, issue management, project participation, and presentations on emerging risks, trends, and control effectiveness.

• Manage all aspects of department staffing, including hiring, onboarding, training, coaching, and performance management, ensuring risk awareness, accountability, and technical competency within the team.

• Establish performance goals aligned with risk management objectives, conduct periodic performance reviews, and support employee development and succession planning.

• Serve as a subject matter expert in mobile and ATM deposit review methodologies, Check 21 requirements, Regulation CC, UCC provisions, and deposit-related fraud controls.

• Analyze productivity metrics, quality results, fraud losses, and operational trends to identify control gaps, emerging risks, and opportunities for process and control enhancement.

• Oversee testing, validation, and execution of Deposit Operations' activities related to mergers and acquisitions, system upgrades, software releases, and platform conversions, ensuring risk considerations are incorporated into implementation and post-conversion monitoring.

COMPETENCIES

• Strong analytical, investigative, and risk-assessment skills

• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, including the ability to clearly articulate risk and control considerations

• Ability to influence and collaborate effectively with first, second, and third line stakeholders

• Highly self-motivated with strong organizational, prioritization, and time-management skills

• Ability to operate effectively in a fast-paced, risk-focused environment while meeting regulatory and operational deadlines

• Demonstrated ability to successfully lead and develop a large team

• Manage complex initiatives with a focus on control effectiveness

QUALIFICATIONS, EDUCATION AND CERTIFICATION REQUIREMENTS

• Education: Bachelor's degree in business, finance, or a related field, or an equivalent combination of education and relevant work experience.

• Experience: A minimum of 10 years total in banking is required, of which 5 years must be in team management; preferably within Deposit Operations or Fraud Operations. Must possess extensive knowledge in Deposit Operations and deposit-related risk management, to include check fraud, check processing, deposit review, and fraud claims.

• Certifications/Specific Knowledge: Experience with the Fiserv Premier core system is preferred. Proficient with general office machines, PC experience, and programs to include Microsoft Word, Excel, Outlook, Teams, and other departmental software.

• National Check Professional Certification (NCP): Preferred or willingness to obtain within 2 years in role.

• Regulatory Subject Matter Expert (SME) Training: Complete all required regulatory training to serve as a subject matter expert for the team.

TRAINING REQUIREMENTS/CLASSES

• New Employee Orientation

• Annual compliance training

• Check Fraud Training Plan

• Extensive regulatory training

• Obtain ABA Certification in Fraud Prevention within 2 years in role

• Obtain ABA Certification in Operational Risk Management within 2 years in role

• Obtain ABA Certification in BSA and AML Compliance within 2 years in role

• Obtain ABA Certification in Deposit Compliance for Compliance Professionals within 2 years in role

• Obtain ABA Supervisor/Team Leader Certificate within 2 years in role.

• NCP within 2 years in role

• Other training assigned by management

PHYSICAL DEMANDS

This position requires a large amount of time in front of a computer. This can be done sitting or standing with the use of the right desk. Must be able to effectively access and interpret information on computer screens, documents, and reports.

WORK ENVIRONMENT

Our work environment is designed to offer a balance of office and remote work. This hybrid position requires you to be present at our support center once a week, or more if requested by leadership, where you will work in an individual office setting. The noise levels in the office can vary throughout the day. Please note that the hybrid schedule is subject to change due to the volume of work, meetings, or events that require you to be in office more than one day a week. The facility is equipped with heating and cooling systems.

It is essential to have a secure and quiet home office environment free from background noise and distractions. A reliable private internet (cable or fiber) connection is required. Please be aware that these requirements may change as we introduce new systems and technology.

TRAVEL

Occasional travel may be required for outside meetings, training, or natural disasters affecting the ability to work in a Support Center or remotely from home.

Equal Opportunity Employer, including disabled/veterans.